On Saturday [Dec. 1st] Mr. Findley delivered an eloquent
and powerful speech, to prove that the proposed plan of
government amounted to a consolidation, and not a confederation
of the states. Mr. Wilson had before admitted
that if this was a just objection, it would be strongly against
the system; and it seems from the subsequent silence of all
its advocates upon that subject (except Doctor Rush, who
on Monday insinuated that he saw and rejoiced at the
eventual annihilation of the state sovereignties) Mr. Findley
has established his position. Previous to an investigation
of the plan, that gentleman animadverted upon the
argument of necessity, which had been so much insisted
upon, and showed that we were in an eligible situation to
attempt the improvement of the Federal Government, but
not so desperately circumstanced as to be obliged to adopt
any system, however destructive to the liberties of the people,
and the sovereign rights of the states. He then argued
that the proposed constitution established a general government
and destroyed the individual governments, from
the following evidence taken from the system itself: 1st. In
the preamble, it is said, We the People, and not We the
States, which therefore is a compact between individuals
entering into society, and not between separate states enjoying
independent power, and delegating a portion of
that power for their common benefit. 2d. That in the legislature
each member has a vote, whereas in a confederation,
as we have hitherto practised it, and from the very
nature of the thing, a state can only have one voice, and
therefore all the delegates of any state can only give one
vote. 3d. The powers given to the Federal body for imposing
internal taxation will necessarily destroy the state sovereignties,
for there cannot exist two independent sovereign
taxing powers in the same community, and the
strongest will of course annihilate the weaker. 4th. The
power given to regulate and judge of elections is a proof
of a consolidation, for there cannot be two powers employed
at the same time in regulating the same elections,
and if they were a confederated body, the individual states
would judge of the elections, and the general Congress
would judge of the credentials which proved the election
of its members. 5th. The judiciary power, which is coextensive
with the legislative, is another evidence of a
consolidation. 6th. The manner in which the wages of the
members is paid, makes another proof; and lastly, The
oath of allegiance directed to be taken establishes it incontrovertibly;
for would it not be absurd, that the members
of the legislative and executive branches of a sovereign
state should take a test of allegiance to another sovereign
or independent body?